Ah yes, the Gold’s Gym Maxx CrossWalk 650 Treadmill–rolls right off the tongue doesn’t it? Naming conventions aside, Gold’s Gym (a licensed ICON brand) has a reputation for good performance in entry level treadmills and the CrossWalk 650 is no exception.
The biggest selling point for the Gold’s Gym Maxx CrossWalk 650 Treadmill is simply outstandin
g value. Priced at around $600, this is a well constructed, thoughtfully designed machine. Many entry-level models in this price range are smallish and flimsy. Not so with the Gold’s Gym Maxx. In fact, many complaints involve simply getting the machine home and set up as it is very heavy. Everyone we’ve spoken with has been really impressed by the sheer quality you get with this model compared to others in this category.
The Gold’s Gym Maxx CrossWalk 650 Treadmill features a G-Force 2™ 2.8 HP Drive Motor. We tested this machine and feel like the 2.8 HP rating is a bit of a stretch. Nonetheless, it’s a capeable and quiet motor that moves the user along efficiently at walking and light jogging speeds. If you’re a serious runner, this probably isn’t the machine for you. But if you’re a beginner or someone just looking for a good walking machine, the Maxx will certainly do the job.
One feature we frankly hate is the upper body component to this machine. Yes, the old ICON CrossWalk handles rear their ugly head again. Simply put, the upper body arms are useless unless you’re planning to use them as towel hangers. They really don’t work well and in our opinion they simply detract from an otherwise good walking experience. Our advice is simply to ignore them as a feature when considering this machine.
Some of the features we did enjoy on the Gold’s Gym Maxx are the 20″ x 55″ Treadbelt with AirStride cushioning, the QuickSelect 0-10% incline, the built-in workout fan and iPod dock and the 6 audio workouts that provide verbal coaching to the user.
TTR Recommendation
We give the Gold’s Gym Maxx CrossWalk 650 Treadmill an excellent rating in the “Treadmills under $1,000″ category. This is a solid, well built machine that should provide beginning users with solid performance and reliability. The warranty on the Gold’s Gym Maxx covers the motor for 25 years and parts and labor for one year. This is a solid warranty for the price range, but we would reccommend one of the extended service plans available from the manufacturer.
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